How rangefinders are brought to life

Technology has been developing fast recently, and it has helped a lot in making our lived more convenient. One of which are laser rangefinders, a tool for determining distance from one point to another, mostly used for hobbies like hunting, golf, and other outdoor activities.

But how is it made? One may ask simply out of curiosity, or maybe out of wondering on how accurate a rangefinder could be. Knowing how each rangefinder is made is also good for knowing how to buy what fits a purchaser’s needs.

I will describe here the general process of how rangefinders are made, as most are not created for specific purposes, but I’d like to cover all kinds as much as I could.

The designing process

Before going to the specifics, the developer first has to plan the design depending on the target market and purpose for the rangefinder.

The Market

Although most rangefinders’ functions are interchangeable, some are conveniently made for golfers, while others are more conveniently crafted for hunters and outdoor surveyors. The difference of which lies between how the rangefinder finds the target. Rangefinders for golfers spot target based on first priority, while the ones for hunters and surveyors use second priority.

It would also rely if the market is high-end, mid-range, or value.

The Exteriors

The designing of Nikon Rangefinder

Based on the said use, and target budget, one may plan on how durable and light the exteriors could be. Will it be made out of plastic? Should it be waterproof? How light should it be? The size and shape would also matter for ergonomic reasons. The texture also contributes to how good the grip could be. Color would also matter for some.

The Specifics

This is what would take the longest time, and what needs to be planned out well. Firstly, what measurements could be programmed into the rangefinder to make rangefinding a more convenient experience? Will it be good to use with slope, and could it measure projectiles? Rangefinders use the speed of light to compute for distances, any bending, elevation or the lack thereof should be put to consideration to generate more accurate measurements.

Next, would be the lens. Lens size matters, as larger lens would be able to emit and receive more light, which would also depend on the aperture inside. The quality of the lens could also be put into consideration, and would it be weatherproof?

Other specifics like the mirror dynamics inside the rangefinder and the quality of the glass on the viewfinder are also chosen carefully.

Extras

After knowing all these, once the developer finalizes the basic components inside, a good developer could think of an edge for the product. Something that could make it special compared to others. One example would be very trivial options, like changing font size for elder people’s use, or switching modes depending on the weather.

Once all the functions and components are decided, the developer will now go back to the exteriors and design the shape of the rangefinder, depending on how he plans to arrange the components inside.

After all these, the developer may contact a trusted manufacturer locally or internationally to assemble the parts according to plan and produce a target volume.

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